We will add and subtract rational expressions and simplify complex fractions.
Add or subtract. Identify any x-values for which the expression is undefined
Add the numerators
Combine like terms
The expression is undefined at x = -4 since the denominator will be equal to 0 at this value of x.
If we have unlike denominators, we have to multiply both numerator and denominator by a factor with an equivalence of 1 that will result in common denominators.
We will probably have to factor the denominators to determine what we must multiply by to result in a common denominator. We also have to remember to identify any values of x that make the expression undefinefd -- that is, division by 0.
Our first step is to find the least common multiple for each pair of factors. It might be a monomial, but it might also be a polynomial.
Add or subtract. Identify any x-values for which the expression is undefined
The expression is undefined at x = -4 since the denominator will be equal to 0 at this value of x.
If we have unlike denominators, we have to multiply both numerator and denominator by a factor with an equivalence of 1 that will result in common denominators.
We will probably have to factor the denominators to determine what we must multiply by to result in a common denominator. We also have to remember to identify any values of x that make the expression undefinefd -- that is, division by 0.
Our first step is to find the least common multiple for each pair of factors. It might be a monomial, but it might also be a polynomial.
Find the least common multiple for the pair:
If we factor the trinomials, we can write